PTI supporters set out from Lakki Marwat as the government prepares for a days-long protest convoy
Supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan began a days-long march toward Islamabad on Sunday after negotiations between the federal government and the opposition ended without an agreement. The convoy left Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with organisers planning several stops before the march reaches the capital.
The immediate dispute centres on the planned protest and the opposition's demands concerning Khan, who has been in prison since 2023. Participants in the second round of talks met for hours at Parliament House on Saturday. Opposition representatives later said the discussions had reached a deadlock. Government figures and opposition leaders offered different accounts of why the talks failed, particularly over security policy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and access to Khan.
Authorities have placed shipping containers and other barriers on routes into Islamabad. The government has urged the organisers to delay the protest, citing a rise in militant attacks in the northwest. PTI leaders have maintained that their supporters will proceed peacefully and say they want Khan released, moved to a hospital for treatment and allowed fuller access to his family and doctors.
The march adds pressure to an already tense political environment. The size and pace of the convoy, the authorities' response and any renewed dialogue will determine whether the confrontation stays contained. Both sides now face a clear test: protecting the right to peaceful political activity while preventing violence and disruption for residents along the route.
Reporting sources
- Associated Press report dated 4 October 2026
- Dawn report on the second round of talks
- Radio Pakistan report on the talks
Prepared as an editorial demonstration. A human editor should verify the article before publication.